ReadItDaddy's Second Book of the Week - Week Ending 9th February 2018 - "Friends for a Day" by Neal Layton (Hodder Children's Books)

Our Picture Book of the Week this week is just sublime, tugging at our heartstrings with bittersweet feelings of sadness and joy...
"Friends for a day" by Neal Layton is one of those books that perfectly demonstrates that even fairly well-used ideas can take on a whole new dimension and a new lease of life when an author-illustrator's lightbulb moment of inspiration is given legs and allowed to run.

We've talked a lot on the blog about 'friendship' books, and the number of times we've seen authors and illustrators come up with a story that doesn't really go beyond "Friends are great, we should all have them, because...er...they're great" stumbling around a bit in a storytelling cul-de-sac.

There are two things Neal can always be relied on for, and we say this having read a great many of his amazing books and collaborations with other authors.

1) Flipping brilliant scribbly-scrobbly artwork that is utterly charming and glorious and works just perfectly.

2) Storytelling that doesn't treat kids' imaginations like a mapped out and predictable path, letting them find their own ways and draw their own conclusions in each of Neal's solo stories.

In this tale, Bartholomew Bear is a happy go lucky fellah leading a nice peaceful life. When he meets Bug, however, his life takes an unexpected turn. Bug really REALLY needs Bear's help.

Bug REALLY wants to go and see the twinkling lights of the city, but why the big hurry?

Bear doesn't really understand what Bug's big hurry is, and why Bug can't just get on with his journey on his own, but when Bug keeps getting caught up by the wind and blown off course, Bear realises there's only one thing for it - to join his new pal on an epic journey to the city.

There are trials and setbacks but the closer they get to the twinkling lights, the more urgent and insistent Bug's fervour for reaching his destination becomes. When they get there, Bear certainly has never seen anything like the big city before - but where are the lights?

Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999!

Soon Bear realises exactly why Bug was in such a huge hurry, and as they encounter the amazing and dazzling spectacle of thousands upon thousands of other bugs strutting their funky stuff amongst the city's neon lights that come on after dark there's a rather heart-meltingly beautiful moment of realisation for Bear, and an epic send off for his new pal.

We both sat there on our read through, and C turned to me, asking about the end of the book (which we won't spoil too much but smarter folk amongst you might have already guessed - if you've ever seen the Disney film "The Frog Princess" and one of its saddest moments you might feel like you're on familiar ground). I loved that, the book sparking a discussion like that. Poignant and thought provoking discussions that show the real power of picture books.

Achingly brilliant stuff once again.

C's favourite bit: Bear's way of remembering his awesome little buzzing friend.

Daddy's favourite bit: As I've said on Twitter many a time, I sometimes wonder if being a colossal softie isn 't the worst AND best thing to be when you review children's books.

"Friends for a Day" by Neal Layton is out now, published by Hodder Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).